Folding camera viewfinder

ABSTRACT

A compact folding camera including a viewing device for framing a scene to be photographed. The viewing device includes first and second optical elements and an erecting system for moving the optical elements from an inoperative position to an operative position. The erecting system includes a latch for releasably retaining the optical elements in the inoperative position. One of the links of the erecting system is responsive to movement of the camera to its operative, extended position for releasing the latch to allow the erecting system to move the optical elements to their operative positions.

United States Patent 1 1 Fraser et al.

' [54] FOLDING CAMERA VIEWlFINDER [76] Inventors: Richard J. Fraser, 21 Meadow Parkway, Franklin, Mass. 02038; John E. McGrath, Jr., 34 Oakland Street, Dedham, Mass. 02026 122 Filed: i Dec.1,l971 2 11" Appll No.: 203,735

[52] [1.8. CI ..95/47 [51] Int. Cl.. G03b 11/04 [58] Field of Search .l ..95/47, 42

[56 v V p I References Cited r UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,622,497 12 1952 Cornut ...9.5 42 3,630,135 12/1971 Sato ..95/47 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS -797,ll0 6/1958 Great Britain ..95/47 1111 3 ,710,697 Jan. 16, 1973 Primary Examiner--Samuel S. Matthews Assistant Examiner-Michael D. Harris Attorney-Brown and Mikulka [57] I ABSTRACT A compact folding camera including a viewing device for framing a scene to be photographed. The viewing device includes first and second optical elements and an erecting system for moving theoptical elements A from an inoperative position to an operative position. The erecting system includes a latch for releasably retaining the optical elements in the inoperative position. One of the links of the erecting system is responsive to movement of the camera to its operative, extended position for releasing the latch to allow the erecting system to move the optical elements to their operative positions.

8'Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDJAH 16 I975 3. 716.697

SHEET 1 0F 2 I NVENTORS RICHARD J. FRASER and BY JOHN E. MCGRATH JR.

fiJ/wwoz aazlj 77% PATENTEDJAR 16 ms 3.710.697

SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTORS RICHARD J FRASER and BY JOHN E. MCGRATH JR.

o hd 5. 69W

ATTORNEYS 1 FOLDING CAMERA VIEWFINDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to folding cameras of the type including a collapsible viewing device.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is well known to provide cameras of the folding type with a viewing device, e.g., a rangefinder and/or viewfinder, which is mounted von the camera for move- 'ment between inoperative and operative positions.

Generally, operation of cameras of the foregoing type involves two independent steps, i.e., moving various housing sections of the camera totheirextended position and moving the viewing device to its operative position. Needless to say, requiring the operator of the camera to perform these independent steps results in a process, e.g., focusingthe subject to be photographed while it is still assuming the pose which the operator wishes to capture on filmjFrom the foregoing it can be 7 tion. Rotation of the link in the manner just described moves the detent on the link out oflocking engagement the viewing device and camera simultaneously. Since waste of time which could be more advantageously util- .ized in performing othersteps f the photographic seen that operation of the above-described cameras could be greatly enhanced if the steps of erecting the cameraand its viewing device were coordinated so as to occur simultaneously.

SUMMARY OF Tl-IE INVENTION vThe present invention provides a compact folding camera which includes aviewingdevice for providing an'ima ge of a subject to be photographed. The camera is formed. by a plurality of interconnected housing sections,',inclu-ding' first and second housing sections,

which are coupled for movement between folded and extended positions. The viewing device is mounted on the first housing section and includes first and second optical elements, each of which has its own erecting means for guiding its respective optical element between inoperative and operative positions. In the inoperative position, the first and second optical elements are folded flat against the first and second housings'ections for storage. The optical elements are maintained in the inoperative position by a latching arrangement including, in a preferred embodiment, a resilient detent integrally formed on one of the links of the erecting means for the second optical element. The resilient detent is adapted to be moved into locking engagement with a portion of the erecting means for the first optical element as the elements are moved into the inoperative position. Both erecting means are provided with springs for resiliently urging the first and second optical elements to the operative-position. When the camera and viewing deviceare both in a folded or in operative position, the second optical element and its erecting means are. positioned in overlying relation to thesecond housing section such that the detent on the aforementioned link maintains thefirst optical element in the inoperative position and the engagement between the second housing section and theerecting means for. the second optical element maintains the .second optical element in the inoperative position.

As the camera is erected, the first and second housing sectionsmove relative to eachother, thereby mov- -ing the second housing se'ction'relative to the erecting means for the second optical-element. Thismovement allows the link to rotate toward the second housing secthe latching arrangement consists of components of the erecting system for the optical elements, objectionable latch mechanisms protruding from the exterior surfaces 'of the housing sections are no longer necessary,

thereby making the camera configuration more aesthetically pleasing.

An'object of the invention is to provide a camera of the folding type with a collapsible viewing device having a novel latching arrangement for releasably maintaining the viewing device in an inoperative position.

, Another object of the invention is to provide a camera of the folding type with a collapsible viewing device which automatically erects upon erecting the camera. 7

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will, in part, appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the apparatus possessing the construction, combination of elements,

, and arrangement of parts which are exemplified in the following disclosure and the scope of the application which will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS camera and viewing device of FIG. 1 shown in their folded or inoperative positions; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of an alternative latching arrangement for the camera's viewing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Reference" is now made to FIG. 1 whereinthere is shown 'afoldable, single lens reflex camera 10 of the self-developing type in its extended or operative position. Camera 10 includes first, second, third and fourth housing sections 12, l4, l6 and ,18, respectively, pivotally coupled to each other at pivots 13, 15,17 and l9for relative movement between the extended position shown in FIG, 1 and the inoperative, folded position'shown inFIG. 2. Housing sections l2, l4, l6 and 18 cooperate with a flexible bellows 20, secured thereto to form a six-sided exposure chamber 22.

First housing section 12 includes a wall 24 having laterally I spaced flanges 26 (only one of which is shown) extending upwardly therefrom and an opening 3 2'8: w'hi'chextends into exposure chamber 22. Flanges 26"provide ,a means for mounting a viewing device 30 as will be 'more fully described hereinafter; Second housing section 14, pivotally connected to housing section 12 at 15, includes means (not shown) forrnounting a planar mirror 32 on an interior wall 34 thereof. Third housing section 16 includes a pair of laterallyspaced side walls 36 and 38 interconnected by a bottom wall 40 and an end wall 41 to define a U-shaped chamber 42 for receiving a filmassemblage including a film container 44 having a plurality of individual 'film units 46 (only two beingshown) therein. Extending forwardly of chamber 42 is a U-shaped roller support housing having a pair of rollers 50, 52 mounted thereon in closing relation to the open end of chamber 42/Roller housing 48 is pivotally coupled to third housing section l6 andis adapted to be pivoted in acounterclockwise manner to move rollers 50 and 52 to a position wherein a film container 44 may be inserted'into or withdrawn and and is provided with means for mounting'a lens and. shutter assembly-54 and a shutter release button (not shown);

P ivotally mounted within exposure chamber 22 is a reflecting meanswcomprising a support 56 having an echelontype reflecting surface 58 onone side thereof and a planar reflectingsurface, tag, a mirror 60, on the other side thereofi The reflecting means is adapted to be pivoted between the position shown in FIG. 1 wherein 'surface 58 is a compon ent'of the camera's viewingsystem, and a second position wherein surface 58 is closely adjacent to and parallel with mirror 32 and mirror-60 functions as a component ofthe cameras exposure system. a

' 1 A viewing device 30 including first and second opticalmeans 62 and 64, respectively, is mounted on first housing section 12for movement between an operative position, as shown in FIG. 1 and an inoperative position as shown in FIG. 2 wherein the optical means 62 3 and"6 4- generally lie within thesame plane and compli-t 'm e'ntthe compactness of thecamera when the latter'is' in a folded'position 'fhe first optical'means 62, which is disclosed as a concave mirror, is" provided with a first erecting means for guiding the concave mirror 62 between the;,inoperative and operative positions. The

I erectirig'means includes a mirror housing 66 pivotallycoupl ed near its lateral sides by' a} pin 70 to a pair of .tabs '68 (only'one of which is shown) extending up-' w'ardly-from' wall l4;'a pair of guide pins 72 (only one shown) extending outwardly from opposite sides. of mirror housing 66'and adapted to be captured in menate guides-74 formed in laterally spaced-flanges'76extending. downwardly. from a cover 78; and biasing means, e.g;, aspjring'"80"having one end 82 in engagement 'with wall 14, an intermediate portion "wound about pin 70 and the other end 84 curved around guide pin' 72. :Fhesecond optical me'ans,' shown as an eyelens 64,;also has an erectingmeans for'guiding the eye lens" 64 between its-operative and inoperative positions. The

latter erecting means includes an eye lenshousing'86 pivotally coupledatits lateralends to flanges 26 by pins 88; a pair of laterally spacedlinks 90 (only oneshown) eachof which has oneend pivotally coupledto flange '26'b yi apin 92and'its other end pivotally coupled to'a from chamber42. Finally, fourth housing section l8is 1 pivotally coupled near its ends to housing sections 12' lateral sideof eye lens housing 86 by a pin 94 extending away from the housing 86 and into a slot 96in link 90; and a spring having one end.9,8 in engagement with a rib 100 extending inwardly from flange 26,311 intermediate portion-wound about pin 88, and its other end "102 in engagement with eye lens housing 86.

Viewing device 30 isalso provided with a collapsible or folding shade 104 for reducing admission of ambient light into the area between concave mirror 62 and eye lens 64 thereby increasing the apparent brightness'of the image formed by concave mirror 62 .'Th'e foldingh shade 104 is formed by a plurality (4) of thin elongated U-shaped blades 106 pivotally coupled near the free ends of the U to the rearwardly extending flanges 260i housing section 12 at pivot 88. Itv will be noted from bottom edge bears' 'against housingsection 12,.The

three uppermost blades 1 06 have inwardly turned flanges 108 at their forward bottomedgesand the three lower blades have outwardly turned flanges ll0 a t their I upper forward edges which are adapted to interlock as the upper three blades 106 arerotated upwardly from housing section l2 for sequentially erecting the blades to the posi'tionsshow'n in'FlG. 1. It will be noted, that in I the erected position, the individual "blades 106 overlap one another, thus preventing ambient light from passing therebet weenfShade 104'is spring biased towards the erected or light-blocking-position by any suitable means, e.g., by a pair of springs. Fora more detailed description of the viewing device, referenceis made to. the copending application. of, Edward Coughlan et al., Ser. No. 141,554, filed May 10, 1971 I and assigned to the same assignee as the instant-application. n i Yiewing' device 31) is provided with latching means for'maintainin'g the optical elements 62 and 64 in their folded or inoperative position, as shown in FIG. 2. ma preferred embodiment, the latching means includes a' protuberance 'll0 extending upwardly from mirror housing 66, as viewed in'FlGLl, and a resilient member 112 which is preferably an integral part of one of the erecting links 90, e'.g., link 90 shown in FIG, 1. -Resilient member 112 includesanarcuatep'ortion 114, i which defines one side of an aperture 116, andanupwardly extending flange 118 having inclined surfaces"- 120 and'l22 on one side thereof. I 1

Y; OPERATION When-the camera and the viewing device are 'in'their folded, inoperative positionsfthe various components thereof assume the positions shown in FIG. 2. lt willbe noted'that spring cannot move the concave mirror 62 to its operative position because of the latching effect created by the inclined surface 122' of flange 118 overlying protuberance 110 on' mirror housing'66.

Flange 1 18, in turn, is maintainedin the position shown I I duev to the link being in -eng-agenient' with housing section 14. Accordingly,since the{Orceofspring 80 is,

incapable oficausing" protuberance to, deflect flange 118 to a position wherein it can clear the inclined surface 122, and since link 90 is held against clockwise rotation due to its engagement withhousing section 14, the optical elements 62 and 64 are maintained in their inoperative position.

The latching means is constructed such that camera and viewing device 30 may be moved to their erected, operative positions in aplurality of ways. For example, the operator may grasp housing section 14 and pivot it in a clockwise direction about hinge 17.

This latter movement results in housing sections 14 and 90 by way of pin and slot connections 94 and 96,

respectively, to cause links 90 to rotate in a clockwise direction about hinge 92. Initial movement of links 90 in said clockwise direction moves flange 118 to a position out ofengagernent with protuberance 110, thereby allowing optical element '62.to be moved by spring 80 in a counterclockwise direction into its operative position. Counterclockwise rotation of optical element 62 is'transmitted to cover 78 and blades 106 by the cooperation between pin 72 and the arcuate slot 74in flange 76, thereby resulting-in the cover 78 and blades 1 06 pivoting about hinge 88 into the extended position shown in FIG. 1'. Links 90 continue to follow'housing section 14 untilpin 94 reaches the end of slot 96, at which time optical element 64 is in its operative position. Alternatively, the camera and viewing device may be moved to their operative positions by grasping the cover 78 in the vicinity of flange 74 and applying an upward force thereon. This upward force on cover 78 is sufficient to cause protuberance 110 on mirror housing 66 m deflect flange 11:; on link .90 to a position wherein the protuberance 110' isclear of the inclined surface 122, thereby allowing optical element 62 to moveto its operative position. This upward movement on cover 78 is alsotransmitted to housing section 12, due to its connection therewith, to move housingsection 12 relative to housing section 14. Relative-motion between housing sections l2;and 14 allows links90 to rotate about hinge 92 in a clockwise direction until optical element 64.reaches its operative position.

Still another'way of erecting the camera and viewing device isto grasp the right-handportion of cover 78 (as viewed in FIG. 2) and applyan upward force theretoto cause relative movement between 'housing sections 12 and 14. As stated above, optical element 64-will auto matically move to its erected, operative position as links 90 follow the movement of housingsection 14 into the extended, operativeposition. Once optical element 64 is in its operative position and the camera'is fully erected,.the operator of the camera may release cover 78 and the first optical element 62 will be moved to its operative position by spring 80. Suitable erecting linkage (not shown) may belprovided for maintaining the camera in its extendedoperative position.

The camera and its viewing system may'bemovedto their folded, inoperative positions in a plurality of ways.

For example, the operator may, after releasing the aforementioned camera erecting linkage, apply a force to cover 78 in the vicinity of flange 76, thereby causing cover 78 to rotate about hinge 88 in a counterclockwise direction. Counterclockwise rotation of cover 78 rotates optical element 62 in a clockwise direction into its inoperative position. Continued downward force on cover 78 is transmitted to housing section 12 to rotate housing section 18 in a counterclockwise direction about hinge 19. This latter movement of housing section 18 results in relative movement taking place between housing section 14 and links 90. As the angle between housing sections 12 and 14 approaches 180, housing section 14 engages the righthand portion, as viewed in FIG. 1, of links 90 and rotates them in a counterclockwise direction. Counterclockwise rotation of links 90 is transmitted to eye lens housing 86 via'the aforementioned pin and slot connection 94 and 96 to rotate eye lens housing 86 in a clockwise direction into its inoperative position. During the last few degrees of counterclockwise rotation of links 90, the flange 118 located on one of the links 90 moves into latching engagement with protuberance to maintain optical element 62 in its inoperative position when the force is removed from cover 78. Alternatively, a force may be applied to housing section 14 to rotate it in a counterclockwise direction about hinge 17, thereby resulting in relative movement between housing sections 12 and 14. As stated above, housing section 14 moves into engagement with links 90 to cause clockwise rotation of optical element 64 into its inoperative position as housing sections 12 and 14 move into a common plane. A downward force is then applied to cover 78 to rotate optical element 62 into its inoperative position. As optical element 62 ap proaches its inoperative position, protuberance 110 engages inclined surface on flange 118 and deflects the flange 118 to a position wherein protuberance 110 can move into latching engagement with inclined surface 122, thereby releasably retaining optical element 62 in the-inoperative position. w I

- An alternative embodiment of the latching means for the viewing device 30 is shown in FIG. 3. In this-view latching means shown in the FIG. 3 embodiment operate in substantially the same manner as the latching means of FIGS. 1 and 2.

From the foregoing it can be seen that there has been disclosed a novel, inexpensive and highly reliable 1 latching means for use on a folding camera having a foldable viewing device. The latching means is adapted to release elements of the viewing device for movement into their operative positions upon initial erection of the foldable camerathereby freeing the operator from the task of manually erecting the viewing device. The latching means is incorporated into the erecting linkage I not in a limiting sense.

1 tion herein-involved, it is intended that all matter con I tained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and What. is claimed is: 1'. A folding camera adapted for movement between folded and extended positions and including-a viewing vdevice for providing an image of a scene to be photographed, comprising: I

I a housing; Y y

first and second optical means operatively associable 1 with each other for providing said image, said first and second optical means being coupled to said housing for. movement relative to each other between inoperative and operative positions; I I first and second erecting means coupled'to said first and secondopticalmeans; respectively, for guiding said first and second optical means between said inoperativeand operative positions; latching'.means extending from one of said first and second erecting means and engageable with the 7 other of said first and second erecting means for releasably retaining said first and second optical means in said, inoperative position; and means responsive to movement of said camera housing from said folded position toward said extended position for releasing said latching means. i 2. A foldingcamera asdefine d in claiml wherein said latching means includes resilient means coupled to said first erecting means anda protuberance extending from said second erecting means. I

- 1 A folding camera as defined in claim 2 wherein said housing includes first and second housing 'sections coupled to each other for movement between said folded and extended positions, means mounting said first and second optical means on said first housing sec (a tion, said second erecting meansinclndingsaid means responsiveto movement of said camerahousing from said folded position toward said extended position for releasing said ,latching'means when said first and second optical means are in said inoperative position.

4. A folding camera as defined in claim 3 wherein said first erecting means includes biasing means for urging said first optical means toward said operative position and said responsive means urges said second optical means toward said operative position, whereby movement of said first and second housing sections from said folded position toward saidextended position releases said latching means to allow said first and secondoptical means to automatically move into said operative position. I v

5. A folding camera as defined in claim .1 wherein said latching means includes resilient means extending from said second erecting means and adapted to engage means on saidfirst erecting means for releasably retaining said first and second optical means insaid inoperative position.

6. A folding camera as defined in claim 5 wherein said housing includes first and second housing sections coupled "to each other for movement between said folded and extended positions, means-mounting said first and second optical means'on said first housing section, said second erecting meansincluding saidineans responsive to movement of said camera housing" from said folded position toward said extended position for releasing said latching means when said first and optical means toward said operative position, whereby I movementjof said firstand second housingfsections from said folded position toward s'aid'extended position releases said latching means to allow said first and v second optical means to automatically move into said 7 said link;

operative position.

'8 Afolding camera asdefined in claim 5 wherein i said second erecting means includes a link pivotally coupled betweensaid housing and saidsecond optical means and said resilient means in an integral part of v 

1. A folding camera adapted for movement between folded and extended positions and including a viewing device for providing an image of a scene to be photographed, comprising: a housing; first and second optical means operatively associable with each other for providing said image, said first and second optical means being coupled to said housing for movement relative to each other between inoperative and operative positions; first and second erecting means coupled to said first and second optical means, respectively, for guiding said first and second optical means between said inoperative and operative positions; latching means extending from one of said first and second erecting means and engageable with the other of said first and second erecting means for releasably retaining said first and second optical means in said inoperative position; and means responsive to movement of said camera housing from said folded position toward said extended position for releasing said latching means.
 2. A folding camera as defined in claim 1 wherein said latching means includes resilient means coupled to said first erecting means and a protuberance extending from said second erecting means.
 3. A folding camera as defined in claim 2 wherein said housing includes first and second housing sections coupled to each other for movement between said folded and extended positions, means mounting said first and second optical means on said first housing section, said second erecting means including said means responsive to movement of said camera housing from said folded position toward said extended position for releasing said latching means when said first and second optical means are in said inoperative position.
 4. A folding camera as defined in claim 3 wherein said first erecting means includes biasing means for urging said first optical means toward said operative position and said responsive means urges said second optical means toward said operative position, whereby movement of said first and second housing sections from said folded position toward said extended position releases said latching means to allow said first and second optical means to automatically move into said operative position.
 5. A folding camera as defined in claim 1 wherein said latching means includes resilient means extending from said second erecting means and adapted to eNgage means on said first erecting means for releasably retaining said first and second optical means in said inoperative position.
 6. A folding camera as defined in claim 5 wherein said housing includes first and second housing sections coupled to each other for movement between said folded and extended positions, means mounting said first and second optical means on said first housing section, said second erecting means including said means responsive to movement of said camera housing from said folded position toward said extended position for releasing said latching means when said first and second optical means are in said inoperative position.
 7. A folding camera as defined in claim 6 wherein said first erecting means includes biasing means for urging said first optical means toward said operative position and said responsive means urges said second optical means toward said operative position, whereby movement of said first and second housing sections from said folded position toward said extended position releases said latching means to allow said first and second optical means to automatically move into said operative position.
 8. A folding camera as defined in claim 5 wherein said second erecting means includes a link pivotally coupled between said housing and said second optical means and said resilient means in an integral part of said link. 